Proposed Dredging of the Msunduzi River and Beach Channel within iSimangaliso Wetland Park , uMkhanyakude District Municipality

Indaloenhle Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd is appointed by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority to provide the requisite professional environmental services and obtain Environmental authorisation from the competent authority for the proposed clearance of vegetation and silt that has been deposited in the Msunduzi River and Beach Channel.

The St Lucia estuary and lake system is located within a World Heritage site and Ramsar listed wetland of international importance, under the management of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority. The St Lucia estuary mouth system is complex and comprises of the Mfolozi River, Msunduzi River and the Mkhuze River. Back-flooding of the Msunduzi River, which leads to the inundation of commercial and small-scale farmland with water on the Mfolozi floodplain, has became problematic since the estuary mouth closed in 2014, affecting commercial and small grower agricultural operations on the lower Mfolozi flats and within the Sokhulu area. The project rationale is that clearing of the sediment clogged Msunduzi channel will alleviate backflooding on the Msunduzi and Mfolozi flats areas. Once drained, this will allow commercial and small-grower farmers to farm their areas that have been unable to farm since backflooding inundated their lands